The caretaker committee overseeing the Nsugbe traditional ruler election in Anambra East Local Government Area has publicly appealed to Senator Tony Nwoye to allow residents to peacefully elect their monarch. Victor Attah, chairman of the committee constituted by the Chukwuma Soludo-led Anambra state government, made the appeal on Sunday, August 30, 2026, following a confrontation at the election venue.
Dispute Over Election Process
According to Attah, the state government suspended the Nsugbe Town Union on August 24, 2026, and established the caretaker committee to manage the election process after a series of allegations against the union. The dispute began when the traditional stool was zoned to Ivite village, prompting Senator Nwoye, a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), to lead agitations over how the election should be conducted.
In response to Nwoye's demands, the committee scrapped the original delegate system entirely and adopted an open voting process that would allow every eligible person from Ivite village to participate directly. Despite this concession, Attah alleged that Nwoye arrived at the election venue on Sunday morning with a group of people and moved to stop the process.
No Court Order Against Committee
Attah said in a statement made available to Legit.ng on Sunday: "But early this morning, Sen. Nwoye led people to the venue to stop the election which the community planned to hold in line with his own arguments."
He also addressed claims that a court order was blocking the election, clarifying that no such order had been made against the caretaker committee or the state government. "The order was against the town union and its electoral committee for the delegate election earlier fixed for August 8. Now that the union has been suspended and the mode of election changed to accommodate everyone, Nsugbe people deserve to be allowed to elect their traditional ruler," Attah stated.
Attorney General Cleared of Allegations
Furthermore, Attah pushed back against accusations targeting the State Attorney General, Tobechukwu Nweke, describing the claims as politically motivated. "The Attorney General has no hand whatsoever in the election process and did not even come to the venue. The allegations against the government and the Attorney General are being made by those interested only in blackmail," he said.
Attah commended the state government for stepping in to manage the situation and called on all stakeholders to back efforts to restore calm in the community. "We use this medium to beg Sen. Tony Nwoye to allow peace to reign in Nsugbe so that the people can exercise their right to choose their traditional ruler without further rancour," he pleaded.
